Display device



March 4, 1930. J. c. DUKE 1,749,696

' DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 4, 1930. J. c. DUKE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qbtomwo,

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 JOHN C. DUKE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DISPLAY DEVICE Application fil ed July .14,

This invention relates to a display device for cigars, candies, and other small articles of merchandise, one of the objects being to combine with the box in which the goods are shipped, a simple, compact and efficient device which, when not in use, will not interfere with the st'acking of the containers for shipment or storage but which, when desired, can be readily shifted to a position where it 1 will support thebox in an inclined position whereby the contents can be seen readily when the box is set up in a display case or on a counter. l 4 7 Another object is to provide an attachment for a box which is'cheap to manufacture and can, therefore, be added to an ordinary cigar box or the like without increasing the cost thereof to an objectionable extent.

With the foregoing and other obj ects'which will appear as the description proceeds. the

invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the pre- 5 cise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown. Y

In saiddrawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a cigar box having the present improvements combined therewith, the normal or flat position ofthe attachment being indicated by broken lines and the active or supporting position thereof being indicated by full-lines.

' Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the box showing the attachment in its flat position, the holding stud being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the box in tilted position.

V Figure 4 is an enlarged section through a portion of the box on line 4-'4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified form ofattachment for use on. cardboard boxes and the like, twopositionsof the at- 1928. Serial No. 292,705.

tachment being shown by broken and full lines respectively.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5, the box being supported in an inclined position.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of another form of the structure, a portion of the box being shown.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side elevation showing the present improvements applied to a bottle holder or inkwell holder.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a cigar box or the like and formed in the bottom thereof preferably at the center is a shallow groove 2. The attachment constituting the present invention consists of a thin strip 3 of spring metal or other resilient material provided at one end with an attaching head 4 held to the box by tacks 5 or other suitable fastening means. The strip 3 is weakened close to the head 4 by cutting away the side portions to provide a neck 6, and this strip normally lies flat in the groove 2 as shown in Figure 2 and, by broken lines in Figure 1.

An obliquely disposed slot 7 is formed in the strip 3 and extends from a point near the center thereof to a point near its free end where the slot has a lateral extension 8. The slot is so located and shaped that the offset end 8 thereof as well as the other end of the slot are intersected by the longitudinal center of the strip.

A retaining stud, which can be in the form of a rivet 9, is fastened to the bottomof the box 1 where it will be normally seated in that end of the slot 7 nearest the head 4. This stud has a flat head or enlargement 10 which laps the strip 3 and holds it assembled constantly with the stud.

As before stated strip' 3 is normally flat within the groove 2 and, therefore, will not interfere with the proper stacking of the boxes while in storage or while packed for shipment. When it is desired to display the contents of the box the same is opened and the lid extended backwardly in the usual manner, as shown, for example, in Figure 3. Thereafter the strip 3 is buckled, causing the free end of the spring to slide within the groove. During this movement the spring will be shifted laterally to a slight extent because of the sliding contact of the wall of the oblique slot with the stud.

The sliding movement of the free end of the strip is limited by the stud and when the end or the slot reaches the stud, the strip will spring laterally to normal position so that the stud will become seated in the slot extension 8. Thus the strip position and, as shown particularly in Figure 3, can be utilized as a means for holding the box inclined to display the contents thereof. Should it be desired to restore the strip 315.0 it normal position it would merely be necessary to press it laterally to unseat the studfrom the slot extension The spring strip would then. flatten out automatically. By weakening the strip 6 at anabrupt bend thereof at that point is insured with the result thatthe strip, when bowed, will be located directly under the rear portion of the box.

If small cardboard boxes are to be'provided with this improvement, a structure such as shown in Flgures 5 and =6 can be-einployed. This consists of a strip 11 of resilient material fastened atone end to. the bottom of a box 12 by means of staples 13 or the like. This strip can be made of light spring metal, resilient cardboard, or the like. The strip normally rests fiat on "the bottom of the box as indicated by broken lines. "Instead of providing a stud and a slot, as heretotore described, a holding device in the form of a thin piece'of cardboard or other suitable material 14 can be fastened to the box for engagement by the free end of the strip when bowed. e

Another form of attachment has been illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This structure requires the use of a box 15 the bottom of which is formed of an lnner thickness 16 and an outer thickness 17. Theouter thickness is provided with a slot 18 extending partly across the bottom of the box and exposed within this slot is a resilient strip I9-sim'ilar to the strip 3. The head 20 0f this strip is fastened to the inner thickness of thebottom. The slotted end portion of the strip is nor mally housed between the two thicknesses 16 and 17 as shown by dotted linesin Figure 7 and in section in Figure 8. A rivet or stud 21 connects the two thicknesses 16 and 17 at a point close to the slot and extends through the oblique slot 22 in the strip 19. This structure is adapted to be bowed in the same manner as thestrip 3, the stud or rivet Q1 serving to hold it in bowed position. The structure is advantageous because it houses normally .the free end port-ion oi the strip, I

"The forms of device shown in Figures 6,

",Y, and :8 are especially suited'cfor use with cardboard boxes such as employed ordinarily for holding chewing gum, small candies. etc.

will beheld in a bowedportion of the strip,

however, that these with heavier boxes for gripping an ink well 26 or other con- V trainer and by buckling thestrip 23 as shown in Figure 9 it will serve to support the ink well in-aninclined position. Obviously other kinds of holders can be similarly equipped. Wh t is cla m d i- 1 a 1. The combination witha container-having a depression in the resilient strip normally seated fiat vwithin the depression, means for fixedly end of said strip to the container, an obliquely disposed slot withinthe strip having a lateralextensionadjacent'the free end of the strip, and means, carried by the container. and extending through the slot for holding the strip flat within the depression and for engagement with the free end portion of the strip to hold the strip bowed outwardly from-the depression. 1

2. The combinationwithl a container having-a depression, of aresilient strip normally fiat within" the depression and forming a part of the container, said strip being fixedly secured at one end to the container, there beinganobliquely disposed slot in the strip having a lateral andmeans extending from the container and through the slot for engagement'in the lateral'portion of the slot to hold the. strip bowed outwardly from the depression. T t v r 3. The combinationwith a structure adapted to be supported in an inclined position, of a resilient strip normally flat upon said structure and fastened at one end thereto,

said strip being weakened adjacent the; attached end and havingits other endtree, there being an obliquelydisposed slot within the strip extending toward the free end therer 4. The combination with a container, of a resilient strip normally flat upon the bottom of the container, said strip being fixedlyattach'ed at one end to the container, there being an obliquely disposed slot in the strip, and

means carried by the container and extending holding the strip flat through the slot for upon the bottom, said means cooperating with the slottedportion oztthe strip at one end to hold the strip bowed outwardly from bottom thereof, of a at hing onethere being extension the tree end 7 the bottom to support the container in an inclined position.

5. The combination with a container, of a resilient strip normally fiat upon the bottom thereof, said strip being fixedly secured at one end to the container, there being a slot in the strip having a lateral extension at the free end portion of the strip, and means extending from the container and through the slot for engagement in the lateral portion of the slot to 'hold the strip bowed outwardly from the bottom of the container.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JOHN C. DUKE. 

